Faith Based Community Based Centers
Dr Joe Muriuki was the First Kenya to go public about his HIV Status back in 1989. At the time HIV/AIDS was a scare for nations and those who were diagnosed with the infection were stigmatized and isolated by family, Place of work and the Government was struggling with the crises. Joe gave HIV /AIDS a human face and this brought a swift turn of events. He lived for 36 years with the infection and achieved his personal dreams like getting a PHD and national goals like fighting for the rights of People Living with HIV/AIDS through active participation in forums, Conferences, boards and committees of different organizations both local and international. He advocated for establishment and implementation of supportive policies and programs that helped reduce stigma and enabled care and support for PLWHA across the country. Joe passed on in February 2022.
As a family and friends we have registered DR Joe Muriuki Foundation to carry on his legacy of selfless service to humanity. Mental health is a great challenge for the present generation. We have taken up the area of Alcohol and drug abuse as a major area of interest on mental health.
We have started 4 centers in different churches where we bring together on weekly bases men and women in drugs and alcohol abuse for counseling, community based rehabilitation and shares a meal. These centers are
- Hope Beyond Center in Ndumberi. This was the first program that we started in August 2024. It brings together 70-90 people every week on Wednesday from 2.00pm
- Redeemed Gospel Church Center at Githurai is now seven months old and it brings together 120-150 people every week on Wednesday from noon.
- Calvary Church Center at Mastore in Juja. This center is six months old and brings together 60-70 people every week on Tuesday from noon
- Prayer center International at Kiserian. This is four month old. It brings together 40-50 people every week from 10.00am. Kiserian is a highly populated area and the center is growing steadily.
- Every Thursday we have a center coordinators meeting, this is a one day capacity building forum for center managers and other key people in the centers.
Drugs and alcoholism has no boundaries. It affects the Rich, poor, educated and nonprofessionals, old and young, men and women. We have Teachers, a Doctor, an accountant and graduates among others in the program. These are people who have dropped out of work or business because of abuse of alcohol. Families have been broken and parental relationships destroyed. Others have lost employment, business and livelihood. Alcoholism is a major source of homelessness and a course of death among the youth.
We have more churchs requesting for partnership and 2026 we hope to start 20 more centers in diffrent parts of the country
